Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities, as well as his TDIU claim, are remanded due to the need for additional development.,Increases in the staged ratings assigned for left carpal tunnel syndrome have been denied.

The Board found no evidence that the Veteran's current back disability is related to his active duty service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee and low back disabilities secondary to the Veteran's service-connected chondromalacia left knee disability. The case is remanded for further examination regarding a claimed right hip disability and an increased rating for duodenal ulcer.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability and an evaluation of his entitlement to TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and a lower back disability, finding that the evidence did not show a current disability or in-service incurrence.,There is no medical evidence of a current diagnosis of a lower back disability. The Veteran's lay statements were considered but found to lack probative value.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability due to further development and examination being necessary.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and back disability have been dismissed.,A 50 percent rating, but no higher, has been granted for Major Depressive Disorder from January 26, 2010 to July 1, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to incomplete VA examinations and missing treatment records.

The Board dismissed the service connection appeal for cervical condition, associated with lumbar post laminectomy syndrome, with lumbar degenerative disc disease. The left foot fibroma's rating was restored to 30 percent from June 19, 2015. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for recurring fibroma, left foot, is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examinations due to the Veteran's statements suggesting a worsening of his conditions since the last VA examinations in August 2016. Updated treatment records and new examinations are needed.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed for the Veteran's lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss due to potential worsening of symptoms since his last VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete reasoning in a previous VA examination, and additional information is needed regarding the Veteran's neck disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability due to new evidence submitted. The claims for service connection of left and right ankle disabilities, as well as left and right knee disabilities, are denied. A rating in excess of 10 percent for migraine headaches is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, headaches, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and neck disabilities, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,An increased rating for right and left knee disabilities is also remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disorder, low back disorder, bilateral knee disorders (left and right), and an intestinal disorder. The appeals are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain VA treatment records and the Veteran's spouse should be given an opportunity to provide releases for non-VA medical facilities where she received treatment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral thoracic strain and spondylolisthesis (claimed as a back condition), and insomnia disorder and intermittent explosive disorder (claimed as PTSD).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence to determine if his current thoracolumbar spine and neurological disorders are related to his in-service injury. The Veteran should be scheduled for a VA examination to address these issues.